Automatic one line grapple

ABSTRACT

A grapple employed in the logging industry which includes a pair of tongs which are automatically opened and closed while being hung or supported from a single line or support and which is especially useful in highlead grapple yarding. The tongs are opened and closed in a single cycle of operation or a multiple cycle of operation which renders the grapple quite useful in turning or rotating a log. The tongs of the grapple are either supported from a supporting pin and linkage in which position the tongs are in closed or adjacent position or supported from a pin interconnecting the crossed tongs which pivots the tongs to an open position with the supporting function being sequential in response to movement of the grapple in a predetermined manner.

United States Patent 1 1 Mitchell 1 51 Jan. 9, 1973 [54] AUTOMATIC ONELINE GRAPPLE [76] Inventor: John H. Mitchell, 512 Westerly Drive,Aberdeen, Wash.

[22] Filed: May 10, 1967 [21] Appl. No.: 637,565

52] U.S.Cl. ..294/ll1,294/l18,2l2/84 51 Int. Cl ..B66c 1/00 [58] FieldoiSearch ..294/110, 111,112,118, 119,

Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby Attorney-Clarence A. O'Brien andHarvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A grapple employed in the loggingindustry which includes a pair of tongs which are automatically openedand closed while being hung or supported from a single line or supportand which is especially useful in highlead grapple yarding. The tongsare opened and closed in a single cycle of operation or a multiple cycleof operation which renders the grapple quite useful in turning orrotating a log. The tongs of the grapple are either supported from asupporting pin and linkage in which position the tongs are in closed oradjacent position or supported from a pin interconnecting the crossedtongs which pivots the tongs to an open position with the supportingfunction being sequential in response to movement of the grapple in apredetermined manner.

7 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 9197s SHEET 1 BF 4 John H. Mifche/l 50 INVENTOR.

BY mm; m

PATENTEDJAN 9 I975 John H. Mitchell INVENTOR.

WWW M AUTOMATIC ONE LINE GRAPPLE An object of the present invention isto provide an automatic one line grapple which will open and close whilebeing supported or hung from a single line or single support andincluding a pair of tongs quite similar to the structure illustrated inmy prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,245,712 issued Apr. 12, 1966 for POWER OPERATEDGRAPPLE TONG. The grapple will either automatically open or closedepending upon the position of the structural components so that thetongs are either supported from a pivot point interconnecting the linksattached to the tongs or supported from a pivot pin interconnecting thecrossed tong members.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a single lineautomatic grapple for highlead yarding employing either a single closingcycle or a multiple closing cycle with the multiple closing cycle beingadvantageous on some yarding or log loading jobs such as when it isdesired to turn a log and also to eliminate opening of the grapple inthe event the one line supporting structure is slackened accidentally orfor some particular reason without causing the grapple to open.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an automaticone line grapple for use in highlead yarding having a sky carriage andconnecting link between the carriage and a swivel constructed in amanner to prevent tipping of the sky carriage block which could possiblycause binding in the telescoping action of the grapple thus preventingit from cycling properly.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide anautomatic one line grapple which is simple in construction, easy to useand renders the logging operation much safer and saves considerablelabor and time as compared with conventional methods of opening andclosing grapples.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the automatic one line grapple ofthe present invention employed in a highlead yarding operation in whichthe tongs are illustrated in closed position;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 but with the tongs intheir open position;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view illustrating the association of the cable withthe pivot connection between the crossed tong members;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the grapple illustrating therelationship of components thereof;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view generally perpendicular to thesectional view of FIG. 4 illustrating further structural details of thegrapple;

FIG. 6 is a fragmental sectional view illustrating the position of theautomatic pivot arm as it lowers from the position of FIG. 5 to swingthe pivot arm so that the support pin thereon will not engage the cyclestop;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but illustrating the position of thepivot arm as it is moved upwardly beyond the cycle stop and in which thepivot pin between the crossed tongs is supported from the cable;

. engagement with the cycle stop for closing the tongs;

FIG. 9 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing along section line 9-9 of FIG. 6

illustrating the structural relationship of the components thereof; I

FIG. 10 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing along section line l010 of FIG. 6 illustrating furtherstructural details of the components; 3

FIG. 11 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing along section line 11-11 of FIG. 7 illustrating furtherstructural relationships of the components;

FIG. 12 is a detailed sectional view illustrating the swivelconstruction and the connection with the sky carriage;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view, with portions in elevation illustrating anembodiment of the invention employing a multiple cycling arrangement;

FIG. 14 is a fragmental sectional view illustrating the position of thepivot arm in the first cycle in engagement with the closing cycle stopand illustrating the path of movement of the arm and the closing pinthereon; and

FIG. 15 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 14 but illustrating themovement of the pivot arm after it leaves the second cycle of engagementwith the closing cycle stop.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the automatic single linegrapple comprising the present invention is generally designated by thenumeral 20 and is illustrated in a highleadyarding operation employingthe usual sky carriage line 22 receiving a sky carriage 24 that is insupporting engagement with a special connecting link 26 having one sidethereof connected to a main line 28 and the other side thereof connectedto an out haul line 30. These lines and the association of the skycarriage and connectorflink 26 is known except that the connector link26 is of special construction for a purpose described hereinafter.

Supported from the connector link 26 is a vertical shaft 32 having aswivel connection 34 at its upper end to the connecting link 26 andextending slidably through a bushing 36 in the upper end 38 of a housinggenerally designated by the numeral 40 and including a pair ofsubstantially parallel side plates 42 which are perpendicular to the topplate 38 and the bushing 36 is of the sleeve type with the axis thereofbeing generally centrally between the side plates 42. I s

Extending between the lower ends of the plates 42 is a supporting pin orbolt 44 which supports a tongassembly generally designated by thenumeral 46 and which includes a pair of crossed tong members 48 and 50which have arm portions 52 and 54 on one side of a pivot bolt or pin 56which interconnects pivotally the crossed tongs 48 and 50. The otherends of the tong members 48 and 50 are inwardly curved as at 58 and 60and are provided with a pluralityof teeth 62 on the inner surfacethereof for gripping engagement with a log 64. The tong assembly 46 issubstantially the same as that disclosed in my prior U.S. Pat. No.3,245,712. Connected to the arm portions 52 and 54 is a pair of links 66and 68 connected thereto by pivot pins or bolts 70 and 72 respectivelywith the links 66 and 68 being supported from the support bolt 44. Whenthe tong assembly 46 is supported freely from the support bolt 44 andthere is nothing hindering or preventing the downward movement of thepivot pin or bolt 56, the tong members 48 and 50 will move towards eachother into clamping position or engagement with the log 64 or to thedotted line position as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Mounted on the pivot pin or bolt 56 which forms a center pivot for thetong members 48 and S is the sleeve or bushing 74 having a smoothexterior surface receiving a cable or line 76 which passes under thebushing or sleeve 74 and extends upwardly from both sides thereof. Aconnecting bar 78 is received on the two portions of the cable 76extending upwardly from the sleeve 74 by virtue of the cable extendingthrough passages 80 therein and being secured in place by setscrews 82.The connecting bar 78 holds the cable 76 in place in relation to thecenter pivot 56 and the sleeve or bushing 74 thereon and retains thecable 76 in a stiffened condition so that it will be retained inposition in relation to the other components of the grapple andgenerally disposed between the plates 42.

The free ends of the cable 76 extend up through a pair of spacedapertures 84 in a plate 86 which extends between the plates 42 of thehousing 40 but is not connected thereto. The center part of the plate 86receives the lower end of the shaft 32 therethrough and is rigidly fixedthereto as by welding 88. The upper ends or free ends of the cable 76above the plate 86 is provided with a stop 90 in the form of a ferruleor the like on each free end of the cable 76 which limits the upwardmovement of the plate 86 in relation to the cable 76 inasmuch as thestops 90 will not pass through the apertures 84 thus coming intoengagement with the plate. When this condition occurs, the tong assembly46 will then be supported from the center pivot point 56 rather thanfrom the pivot bolt 44 thus causing the tong members 48 and 50 to moveto the open position illustrated in solid line in FIG. 2.

In order for the shaft 32 to be connected to the housing 40, a stop 92is provided on each of the side plates 42 on the inner surface thereof.The stop 92 is provided with a downwardly opening notch or recess 94 inthe lower surface thereof and a downwardly and outwardly inclinedsurface 96 on one edge thereof and a downwardlyinclined surface 98 onthe opposite side thereof which is substantially straight but inclinesslightly to the left as illustrated in FIGS. 6-8 while the surface 96 issloped substantially to the left and down as illustrated in FIGS. 6-8.Disposed below each of the closing stops 92 is a lower pivot armpositioner 100 attached to each of the plates 42 on the inner surfacethereof. The upper surface of the lower pivot arm positioner is providedwith a pair of arcuate recesses 102 and 104 separated by an upwardlyextending projection or peak 106 which is inclined slightly to the leftand generally is in alignment with the notch with the lower left cornerof the notch being to the left of the peak 106 and the lower rightcorner of the notch 94 being to the right of the peak 106. The arcuaterecess 102 has a portion thereof substantially straight as designated bynumeral 108 which is upwardly and outwardly inclined to form a camsurface for positioning the,pivot arm during the cycling movementthereof.

The lower end of the shaft 32 is bifurcated asat 110 and pivotallyreceives the upper end of a pivot arm 112 therein which is pivoted tothe lower end of the shaft 32 by a pivot pin 114. The pivot arm 112 isrelatively narrow and is disposed generally centrally between andparallel to the side plates 42. At the lower end of the pivot arm 1 12,there is provided a rigid transversely extending pivot arm pin 1 16which is welded or otherwise rigidly fixed to the lower end of the pivotarm 1 12 and which extends laterally outwardly to both sides thereoftowards the side plates 42 and terminating adjacent the side plates 42in a manner to enable swinging and vertical movement of the transversepin 116 between the side plates 42.

The upper end of the pivot arm 112 is provided with a plurality ofnotches 118 which as illustrated in FIGS. 5-8 are three in number for asingle cycle operation. The notches 118 are engaged by a plunger 120which has a rounded and more or less pointed lower nose 122 for engagingthe notches 118 and securing the pivot arm 112 in adjusted pivotedposition. The plunger 120 includes a shank 124 which extends axiallyupwardly into a counterbore 126 in the lower end of the shaft 32.Surrounding the shank 124 is a coil compression spring 128 which has theupper end thereof engaging the closed end of the counterbore 126 and thelower end thereof engaging the shoulder defined by the junction betweenthe shank 124 and the plunger 120 thus spring biasing the nose 122 ofthe plunger 120 into engagement with the notches 118 but enablingpivotal movement of the arm 112 if the resistance to said pivotalmovement caused by the plunger 120 and the spring 128 is overcome inwhich event the spring will be compressed and the plunger moved upwardlyso that it will move from one notch to the next. 9

Also, each of the plates 42 is provided with an upwardly and inwardlyinclined guide 130 having an inwardly curved upper end portion l32 forscrving'to return the pivot arm 112 to an initial position after it hasproceeded through its cycles of movement.

FIG. 5 illustrates the position of the pivot arm 112 in which the tongassembly 46 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 1 for grasping a log64 by virtue of the load being lifted to the shaft 32, the pivot pin 114, the pivot arm 112, the pin 116 and the stops 92 and thus to the sideplates 42, support bolt 44, links 66 and 68, pivot pins and 72 and thetong members 48 and 50. When liftingforce is exerted on the pivot bolt44, the pivot pins 70 and 72 will be urged towards each other thusclosing the tong members in an obvious manner.

To open the tong members 48 and 50, it is only necessary to lower theshaft 32 until the load carried by the tong assembly 46 has beenreleased and the tong assembly is supported from the ground surface orthe like. During continued downward movement of the shaft 32, the stoppin ll6 along with the pivot arm [l2 and plate 86 will move downwardlyuntil such time as the pin 116 engages the recess l04 to the right ofthe partition or peak 106 which will cause the pin 116 and of course thepivot arm 112 to pivot to the right to the condition illustrated in FIG.6 and during this pivotal movement, the plunger will become disengagedfrom the center notch 118 and become engaged with the notch at the righthand portion of the pivot arm 112 as illustrated in FIG. 6. Uponsubsequent upward movement of the shaft 32, the pin 116 will not bereengaged with the notch 94 but rather will pass upwardly between thesurface 98 on the stop 92 and the inner surface of the guide 130 and asthe pin approaches the upper end of the guide 130 the inwardly curvedsurface 132 thereon will cause the arm 112 to pivot to the left asillustrated in FIG. 7 and swing the pin 116 to the left so that theplunger 120 will again be engaged with the center notch 118 and so thatthe pin 1 16 is to the left of the upper end of the top 92. During thisupward movement of the shaft 32, the side plates 42 are stationary andas the plate 86 engages the stops on the cable 76, the tong assembly 46will be supported from the center pivot 56 and, in fact, the centerpivot 56 will move towards the bolt 44 thus moving the pivot pins 70 and72 apart and opening the tong members 48 and 50 in an obvious manner. Inthis condition, the tong assembly 46 is in open position.

Upon subsequent lowering of the shaft 32, the open tong assembly 46 willengage a log and slack in the lift line or continued downward movementof the shaft 32 will cause the shaft 32 to move downwardly in relationto the plates 42 which are then stationarily supported so that the pin116 will engage the inclined surface 96 on the stop 92 and be cammedfurther to the left to the dotted line position illustrated in FIG. 8and this causes the plunger to engage the left hand notch 118. Continuedfurther downward movement of the pin 116 brings it into engagement withthe cam surface 108 as illustrated in FIG. 8 at which time the pivot pin116 and the pivot arm 112 are swung to the right against the surface 102with the peak 106 limiting the movement to the right and in thiscondition, the plunger 120 will then be in the central notch 118. Thenupon subsequent upward movement ofthe shaft 32, the pin 116 will moveupwardly from engagement with the recess 102 into engagement with thenotch 94 with the divergent surfaces of the notch 94 guiding the pin 116into engagement therewith which returns the structure to the conditionillustrated in FIG. 5 and completes a cycle of operation.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the lift plate 86 is provided with notches134 in the side edges thereof to enable the plate to move vertically inrelation to the guide member and the stop 92. Also, the openings 84therein are rounded at the upper and lower edges thereof to preventchaffin'g or binding with the cable 76. Also, one of the tong memberssuch as the tong member 50 is provided with a laterally extending stop136 to limit the movement of the tong members 48 and 50 towards eachother as illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 13-15 illustrate an embodiment of the invention in which multiplelifting and lowering is provided for in order to complete a cycle ofoperation. In this embodiment of the invention, identical referencenumerals are employed to identify identical structure. In thisembodiment of the invention, the plate 86 is provided with lugs 140thereon for receiving one end of a tension spring 142 having the otherend thereof attached to a lug 144 on a lower plate 146 which is fixed tothe side plates 42'. This assures that the plate 86' will be moveddownwardly in relation to the plates 42' when the grapple is lowered.The plate 146 is also provided with openings 148 for receiving theopening cable 76. Also, in this construction, the pivot arm 112'includes two additional notches 118' in the upper end thereof forreceiving the plunger 120. The lower end of the pivot arm 112 isprovided with a transversely extending pin 116 for engagement with alower arm positioner 150 and a stop 152 and a curved guide member 154.The lower arm positioner 150 includes three recesses 156, 158 and 160with the recess 156 having an entrance cam surface 162 and the threerecesses are separated by a pair of peaks or partition members 164 and166.

The stop 112 is provided with a pair of downwardly opening notches 168and 170 which are more or less aligned with the peaks 164 and 166 andthe left surface of the stop 152 is inclined to form a cam surface as at.172 and the other surface of the stop 152 is spaced from the guidemember 154 to form an entrance way 174 for the pin 116. The upper end ofthe guide 164 is curved laterally into a position to deflect the pin 116to then move up into the notch 170 and still be engaged with the stop152. To disengage the pin 116 from the stop 152, it must again belowered in relation to the arm positioner 150 where it will engage therecess 160 and then pass up through the passageway 174 into engagementwith the guide member 154 for deflection laterally to the left of thestop member 152 so that upon subsequent downward movement thereof, thepin 116 will engage the recess 156 after which it will come into contactwith the notch 168 to complete the cycle of operation. This isadvantageous in some installations to prevent accidental release of thegrapple in the event the lift line or shaft is slackened and also isbeneficial in some uses such as when turning a log so that two loghandling or lifting operations-can be obtained before the grapple opens.

FlG. 12 illustrates the swivel structure 34 in which the shaft32 isprovided with a reduced threaded end portion receiving a nut 182 thereonwhich engages a thrust ball bearing 184 on the upper surface thereof.The lower surface of the ball bearing 184 is engaged with a screwthreaded collar or cap 186 screw threaded onto the tubular dependingsocket 188. A suitable setscrew 190 is provided for retaining the swivelassembly in assembled relation. The upper end of the socket 188 isbifurcated as at 192 and receives a pivot pin 194 therethrough and alsoreceives a depending lug 196 which is integral with the connecting link26. The lug 196 is provided with a slot 198' which receives the pin 194and a flat lower edge 200 which will engage the corresponding flat upperedge of the socket member 188 to retain the connecting link and skycarriage 24 generally in alignment with the shaft 32 when the load hasbeen removed therefrom. This construction enables the grapple structureto pivot about the pivot pin 194 only when it is under tension and theflat surface 200 is in contact with the swivel only when slack thusholding the sky carriage in an upright position. Thus, the connectinglink 26 between the sky carriage and the swivel will prevent tipping ofthe sky carriage block which can cause binding in the telescoping actionof the shaft 32 in relation to the housing.

While the grapple has been illustrated in use with a highlead yardingarrangement, it can also be employed with a single lift line attached toany suitable type of lifting equipment. The lift line would be attachedto the shaft 32 immediately above the swivel structure. Also, ifdesired, a cover plate may be employed for the housing to keep mud,sticks, stones or the like out of the mechanism positioned within thehollow frame thus prolonging the effective and useful life of thegrapple. Either gravity, springs or other structural devices may beemployed for assuring movement of the movable plate when the device isin the untensioned condition and it is noted that this device completelyeliminates any sheaves whichrnay cause line or cable wear.

By employing the single line grapple constituting the present invention,the necessity of providing a separate person to open and close the tongassembly has been eliminated and also, there has been eliminated thenecessity of employing a second cable or other power means such as fluidpressure cylinders to open and close the tong assembly. With the presentinvention, the opening and closing of the tong assembly is completelyautomatic and is accomplished through a single line which also serves asthe lift line as well as the line to automatically cause opening andclosing of the grapple.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An automatic one line grapple for logging or the like comprising avertically disposed shaft having means thereon for connection with asingle support, a frame movably supported from the shaft for relativevertical movement in relation thereto, a tong assembly attached to anddepending from the frame for opening and closing in response to relativevertical movement between the frame and shaft, and means interconnectingthe shaft and frame for sequentially locking the shaft to the frame topreclude relative vertical movement therebetween and releasing the shaftfrom the frame to permit relative vertical movement therebetween foropening and closing the tong assembly, said tong assembly including apair of crossed tong members pivotally interconnected by a center pivotat the point of crossing thereof, a tension member having one portionthereof engaged with the center pivot, means connecting another portionof the tension member to the shaft for selectively supporting the tongmembers from the center pivot, a pair oflinks attached to the ends ofthe tong members disposed above the center pivot, and a support meansconnecting the upper ends of the links to the frame whereby support ofthe tong assembly from the support means on the frame -will cause thetong members to pivot towards each other about the center pivot wherebythe tong members will be closed when the tong assembly is supported fromthe support means on the frame and support of the tong assembly from thecenter pivot will open the tong members, said tension memberinterconnecting the frame and tong assembly being in the form of aflexible cable having a central portion thereof extending under andengaged with the center pivot, enlarged stops on the free ends of saidcable disposed within said frame, an apertured plate disposed within theframe and movable in relation thereto receiving the cable, for enablingmovement of the plate in one direction on the cable for limitingmovement of the plate in relation to the cable in the other directionwhen the plate engages the enlarged stops on the cable, said plate beingfixed to the lower end of said shaft for movement therewith to supportthe center pivot of the tong assembly when the frame and shaft movevertically in relation to each other so that the effective lengththereof is greater than the effective length of the shaft and cablethereby causing the tong members to pivot to an open position bysupporting the tong members from the center pivot and permitting theframe and support means to move towards the center pivot.

2. The grapple as defined in claim 1 wherein said means interconnectingthe shaft and frame also includes a closing stop rigidly fixed to saidframe and including a downwardly opening notch in the lower surfacethereof, a pivot arm pivotally mounted on the upper end to said shaftand including a laterally extending closing pin on the lower end thereoffor engagement in the notch in the lower end of the closing stop so thatupward movement of the shaft will cause corresponding upward movement ofthe frame to support the tong assembly from the support means, and apivot arm positioner disposed on said frame below the closing stop andincluding at least one pair of cam surfaces facing the notch on theclosing stop for positioning the pivot arm in a desired position inrelation to the closing stop for aligning the pin with the notch ormisaligning the pin in relation to the notch on the closing stop forselectively engaging the pivot arm and shaft connected thereto with theclosing stop and frame.

3. The grapple as defined in claim 2 wherein said frame includes a guidemember extending vertically therein and including a laterally'offsetupper end for engaging the stop pin to pivot the pivot arm to an initialposition after the pin has been released from the notch and pivoted to aposition in misalignment with the notch in the closing stop, saidclosing stop including a cam surface on the upper surface thereof forengagement by the pin and pivoting the pivot arm to a position so thatthe pin will engage the first cam surface on the pivot arm positionerduring downward movement of the shaft and pivot arm in relation to theframe thus pivoting the pin on the pivot arminto alignment with thenotch so that the pin will engage the notch upon subsequent upwardmovement of the shaft and pivot arm in relation to the frame therebysupporting the frame from the shaft and supporting tong assembly fromthe frame at the support means at the lower end thereof thereby causingthe tong assembly to close.

4. The grapple as defined in claim 3 wherein said closing stop includesa plurality of downwardly facing notches and said positioner includesmore than two cam surfaces on the upper surface thereof for requiring amultiple cycle of movement of the pin on the pivot arm between the lowersurface of the closing stop and the pivot arm positioner for providing amultiple cycle of operation to interconnect the shaft and frame and todisconnect the shaft and frame.

5. An automatic one line grapple for logging or the like comprising avertically disposed shaft having means thereon for connection with asingle support, a frame movably supported from the shaft for relativevertical movement in relation thereto, a tong assembly attached to thelower end of the frame for opening and closing in response to relativevertical movement between the frame and shaft, and means interconnectingthe shaft and frame for sequentially locking the shaft to the frame topreclude relative vertical movement therebetween and releasing the shaftfrom the frame to permit relative vertical movement therebetween foropening and closing the tong assembly, said means forming the singlesupport for the shaft including a swivel structure at the upper end ofsaid shaft, a connecting link attached to the upper end of the swivel,and a sky carriage attached to the upper end of the connecting link,said connecting link including a depending lug provided with a verticalslot therein pivotally securing the swivel to the connecting link when aload is supported by the connecting link, said lug on the connectinglink having a flat lower edge for engagement with he swivel when theconnecting link is not supporting a load to prevent tilting of theconnecting link and sky carriage in relation to the shaft to preventinterference with the telescoping action thereof in relation to theframe.

6. The grapple as defined in claim 1 wherein said center pivot betweenthe crossed tong members includes a sleeve thereon, said tension memberbeing in the form of a cable entrained over said sleeve, said sleevebeing smooth thereby eliminating chaffing and jamming of the cableduring pivotal movement of the tong members.

7. The grapple as defined in claim 1 wherein said shaft includesshiftable means on the lower end thereof in engagement with said frame,and means on the frame for engaging the shiftable means to position theshiftable means in position for selective lifting engagement with theframe at a position below the point of engagement between the shaft andtension member whereby the tension member will not support the centerpivot of the tong members even when fully closed, the other position ofthe shiftable means permitting the shaft to move upwardly to engage andto operatively exert tension force on the tension member to support thetong members from the center pivot to open the same.

1. An automatic one line grapple for logging or the like comprising avertically disposed shaft having means thereon for connection with asingle support, a frame movably supported from the shaft for relativevertical movement in relation thereto, a tong assembly attached to anddepending from the frame for opening and closing in response to relativevertical movement between the fraMe and shaft, and means interconnectingthe shaft and frame for sequentially locking the shaft to the frame topreclude relative vertical movement therebetween and releasing the shaftfrom the frame to permit relative vertical movement therebetween foropening and closing the tong assembly, said tong assembly including apair of crossed tong members pivotally interconnected by a center pivotat the point of crossing thereof, a tension member having one portionthereof engaged with the center pivot, means connecting another portionof the tension member to the shaft for selectively supporting the tongmembers from the center pivot, a pair of links attached to the ends ofthe tong members disposed above the center pivot, and a support meansconnecting the upper ends of the links to the frame whereby support ofthe tong assembly from the support means on the frame will cause thetong members to pivot towards each other about the center pivot wherebythe tong members will be closed when the tong assembly is supported fromthe support means on the frame and support of the tong assembly from thecenter pivot will open the tong members, said tension memberinterconnecting the frame and tong assembly being in the form of aflexible cable having a central portion thereof extending under andengaged with the center pivot, enlarged stops on the free ends of saidcable disposed within said frame, an apertured plate disposed within theframe and movable in relation thereto receiving the cable, for enablingmovement of the plate in one direction on the cable for limitingmovement of the plate in relation to the cable in the other directionwhen the plate engages the enlarged stops on the cable, said plate beingfixed to the lower end of said shaft for movement therewith to supportthe center pivot of the tong assembly when the frame and shaft movevertically in relation to each other so that the effective lengththereof is greater than the effective length of the shaft and cablethereby causing the tong members to pivot to an open position bysupporting the tong members from the center pivot and permitting theframe and support means to move towards the center pivot.
 2. The grappleas defined in claim 1 wherein said means interconnecting the shaft andframe also includes a closing stop rigidly fixed to said frame andincluding a downwardly opening notch in the lower surface thereof, apivot arm pivotally mounted on the upper end to said shaft and includinga laterally extending closing pin on the lower end thereof forengagement in the notch in the lower end of the closing stop so thatupward movement of the shaft will cause corresponding upward movement ofthe frame to support the tong assembly from the support means, and apivot arm positioner disposed on said frame below the closing stop andincluding at least one pair of cam surfaces facing the notch on theclosing stop for positioning the pivot arm in a desired position inrelation to the closing stop for aligning the pin with the notch ormisaligning the pin in relation to the notch on the closing stop forselectively engaging the pivot arm and shaft connected thereto with theclosing stop and frame.
 3. The grapple as defined in claim 2 whereinsaid frame includes a guide member extending vertically therein andincluding a laterally offset upper end for engaging the stop pin topivot the pivot arm to an initial position after the pin has beenreleased from the notch and pivoted to a position in misalignment withthe notch in the closing stop, said closing stop including a cam surfaceon the upper surface thereof for engagement by the pin and pivoting thepivot arm to a position so that the pin will engage the first camsurface on the pivot arm positioner during downward movement of theshaft and pivot arm in relation to the frame thus pivoting the pin onthe pivot arm into alignment with the notch so that the pin will engagethe notch upon subsequent upward movement of the shaft and pivot arm inrelation to the frame thereby supporting the frame from the shaft andsupporting tong assembly from the frame at the support means at thelower end thereof thereby causing the tong assembly to close.
 4. Thegrapple as defined in claim 3 wherein said closing stop includes aplurality of downwardly facing notches and said positioner includes morethan two cam surfaces on the upper surface thereof for requiring amultiple cycle of movement of the pin on the pivot arm between the lowersurface of the closing stop and the pivot arm positioner for providing amultiple cycle of operation to interconnect the shaft and frame and todisconnect the shaft and frame.
 5. An automatic one line grapple forlogging or the like comprising a vertically disposed shaft having meansthereon for connection with a single support, a frame movably supportedfrom the shaft for relative vertical movement in relation thereto, atong assembly attached to the lower end of the frame for opening andclosing in response to relative vertical movement between the frame andshaft, and means interconnecting the shaft and frame for sequentiallylocking the shaft to the frame to preclude relative vertical movementtherebetween and releasing the shaft from the frame to permit relativevertical movement therebetween for opening and closing the tongassembly, said means forming the single support for the shaft includinga swivel structure at the upper end of said shaft, a connecting linkattached to the upper end of the swivel, and a sky carriage attached tothe upper end of the connecting link, said connecting link including adepending lug provided with a vertical slot therein pivotally securingthe swivel to the connecting link when a load is supported by theconnecting link, said lug on the connecting link having a flat loweredge for engagement with he swivel when the connecting link is notsupporting a load to prevent tilting of the connecting link and skycarriage in relation to the shaft to prevent interference with thetelescoping action thereof in relation to the frame.
 6. The grapple asdefined in claim 1 wherein said center pivot between the crossed tongmembers includes a sleeve thereon, said tension member being in the formof a cable entrained over said sleeve, said sleeve being smooth therebyeliminating chaffing and jamming of the cable during pivotal movement ofthe tong members.
 7. The grapple as defined in claim 1 wherein saidshaft includes shiftable means on the lower end thereof in engagementwith said frame, and means on the frame for engaging the shiftable meansto position the shiftable means in position for selective liftingengagement with the frame at a position below the point of engagementbetween the shaft and tension member whereby the tension member will notsupport the center pivot of the tong members even when fully closed, theother position of the shiftable means permitting the shaft to moveupwardly to engage and to operatively exert tension force on the tensionmember to support the tong members from the center pivot to open thesame.